Home has proven to be no comfort for the SacramentoState men?s tennis team, especially lately. Sac Statelost 5-2 against Loyola Marymount University and 7-0against Santa Clara University last weekend at the RioDel Oro Racquet Club.

Friday?s match against LMU was one in which Hornetcoach Chris Evers said his team, “played well, justnot well enough to win.”

The Hornets put themselves in a hole early against LMUwhen they failed to win the doubles point.

The No. 2 team of senior Josh Price and freshman PeterFarkas posted the only doubles win for Sac State,while the pairings of senior Sherif Zaher and freshmanMatthew Jones as well as senior Fabio Jesus andsophomore Nick Sheehan lost.

Jesus and Sheehan almost dodged defeat, rallying backfrom a 6-3 disadvantage.

In singles play, Zaher, the Hornet?s No. 1 singlesplayer, won his match in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-1.

Jones, the team?s No. 3 player, battled to tie hismatch 7-6 after losing the first set 3-6. His opponenteventually retired due to injury, giving him the win.

Jones also played a grueling match Saturday, losing instraight sets 6-4 and 7-6.

At the No. 2 position, Jesus tied the third set 1-1before eventually losing 6-3, 3-6 and 6-3. Price,Sheehan, and freshman Ali Abbou all lost their matchesin straight sets.

“LMU is a good team,” Evers said. “Santa Clara is muchtougher.”

Unfortunately for the Hornets, Santa Clara provedEvers correct. The Broncos are one of the top teams inthe nation, and they showed it during Saturday?smatch, taking all seven points in the match and losingonly one contest, 8-5 to Zaher and Jones in doubles.

With the losses, Sac State dropped to 5-10 on theseason and Saturday marked the fourth straight matchin which the Hornets did not win the doubles point.

That is only one of the problems affecting the teamright now. The Hornets also seem to be having problemsholding on to leads. Between them, Zaher and Jesus hada one-game lead three times during their matches. Bothlost in straight sets.

“I don?t know,” Evers said. “It seems like they getahead and they start to play defensively, instead ofstaying aggressive. They just have to play the waythey know they can play.”

The sub-par record is unfamiliar territory for theteam, which has won the Big Sky Championship three outof the last four years. Most of the players on thisseason?s team weren?t around for those championshipsand, instead, have used this season as a learningexperience.

“We don?t try and tell them something new every timewe lose. We tell them the same thing and hope it sinksin,” Evers said. “We just keep playing and hope itclicks.”

Even in a season filled with difficulty, Evers seesthe opportunity for success. The Hornets have two morematches before the Big Sky Regional matches in Ogden,Utah.

It is imperative that the team gets it together bythen, said Evers.

“They can?t just turn it on and off,” he said. “Theother teams are too good for that. The record is not reflective of the way we?ve played. If we can win at regionals and win at conference, theseason isn?t a bad one.”

The Hornets return to the court next Saturday when thego on the road to take on St. Mary?s College.

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